reacting and putting up a strong defense. it's much more than anticipated. >> there are reports that some hostages have been freed but claim that they repelled an attempt by algerian security to free the rest. people who know the militants say proceed with caution. bret? >> bret: greg palkot live in london. thank you now. find out what the american military is doing about all of this. national security correspondent jennifer griffin is live at the pentagon. jennifer,be i guess defense secretary leon panetta was asked about the americans taken hostage in algeria while he was in rome today. what did he say about it? >> well, he was quick to call it an actbe of terrorism. he said, "by all indications this is a terrorist actbe. the united states condemns the terrorists acts. it's a serious matter when americans are taken hostage along with others and i want to ensure the american people the united states will take all necessary and proper steps that are required to deal with this situation." it seems the administration learned its lesson from benghazi. so far no, u.s. assets have been moved i

11, we didn't have the department of defense forces available for seven hours. two brave americans died in the last hour. >> with fox pressed mr. obama on this in november, he penaled to release any information relevant to investigation. >> i will put forward every bit of information we have. i can tell you that immediately upon finding out, that our folks were in danger, that my orders to my national security team were do whatever we need to do to make sure they are safe. >> today, clinton revealed some details about what happened that night. >> i participated in a secure video conference, of senior officials from the intelligence community. the white house and d.o.d. we were going over every possible option, reviewing all that was available to us. any actions we could take. >> though clinton did not specify if the president participated in that secure video conference. focusing instead on the fact that she was in constant contact with the national security advisor tom donelan and others. >> i spoke with president obama later in the evening to bring him up to date, to hear his per

going the extra mile to assure the russians about future u.s. missile defense moves. >> it will be hadder this time. i don't see where u.s. and russian relations can go and that will be a problem foe the president starting, of course, with syria but iran is the bigger issue that remains undecided and we have gotten some russian help so far on iran but it doesn't mean we will get russian help with the next step. >> the arab spring signaled the fall of middle east leaders with whom u.s. officials had for 30 years cultivated careful relationship. >> president obama called on egypt's mubarak to step down. >> a change must take place. allocated u.s. resources to support a no-fly zone in libya leading to the killing of muammar qaddafi. but in syria, calling numerous times for bashar al-assad to step down, a civil continues there and the united states has not publicly stepped in. >> there is in doubt overall president obama's legacy toward the middle east is one of limited american actism. that is shown by how we handled egypt, libya, syria, iraq. >> there are unanswered questions of the

extremists. the u.s. defense secretary says the president will not be sending american troops there. national security correspondent jennifer griffin is at the pentagon tonight. >> reporter: less than two years after the french asked for u.s. help in overthrowing muammar gaddafi in libya, the french president has asked the u.s. military to help them fight again. this time, in the north african country of mali where al-qaeda appears to have set up a new base. >> we have a goal. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: the u.s. provided intelligence that the french military needed for bombing need this weekend. attempt to keep rebels infiltrated from marching toward the capitol. some analysts call mali a flat afghanistan. defense secretary leon panetta was asked during a visit to portugal if the u.s. is heading in to another war. >> there is no consideration of putting in the american boots on the ground at this time. we have commended the french for this effort to try to go in to mali. to stop the aqim. the terrorists. and members of al-qaeda. >> the state department explained what the u.s. milita

billion from defense spending there. it would have an impact in our capability in context with the military but the only way you get serious and change the trajectory of the debt is to have entitlement reform. >> what does that take? we are europe and finally we have to do something about it? >> i think charles's point this is a president who wouldn't be uncomfortable with gdp spending. for him the way he sees the proper role of government that doesn't seem outrageous even though the historical norm is 20 percent. it is not something that would be a problem. it drags more on the economy now h than it has at that point. you heard democrats talk about that you need another couple interesting in order to avoid the 90 percent threshold. ab september that i don't see that he is going to be the one to lead on those issues. >> second term, though, this is what we are talking about. second term. you are talking about the president he has an opportunity to do something the art sent employees have never had a chance to take a risk go big go bold. one of those things has to do with spending.

the sequester with the forced spending cuts in law to take effect. republicans live with the defense cut it's not that -- they can live with the other cuts. >> bret: journalist has historical perspective on the fun control effort. up next, gullible or culpable? the fake girlfriend of college football superstar. so...how'd it go? well, dad, i spent my childhood living with monks learning the art of dealmaking. you've mastered monkey-style kung fu? no. priceline is different now. you don't even have to bid. master hahn taught you all that? oh, and he says to say (translated from cantonese) "you still owe him five bucks." your accent needs a little work. schwab bank was built with all e value and convenience tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 investors want. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 like no atm fees, worldwide. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and no nuisance fees. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 plus deposit ches with mobile deposit. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and manage your cash and investments tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 with schwab's mobile app. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 no wonder schwab bank has grown to over 70 billion in assets. tdd#: 1

shutdown. i think they should pass pa series of continuing resolutions. one could be for national defense, for the whole rest of the year. one could be for the department of labor and department of housing and urban development, a few other places like that. my guess is you could cut them by 20, 30% and the average american would think that's perfectly reasonable. now, then it would be up to the senate democrats or the president to decide whether or not they were going to force a government shutdown, but i don't think that republicans should set out to have a shutdown, but they shouldn't be afraid of saying there are things we are not going to spend money on. we're going to get this budget under control, and if that requires a confrontation, then that's the price of self-government. remember, i also have to remind people, 1994 is the first republican house majority in 40 years. 1996 is the first reelected republican majority in the house since 1928. i always say to people, if the shutdown hurt us so bad, how come we were the first republicans people believed in enough to rehire in 68 year

offered a vigorous defense of entitlement programs. >> we must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of healthcare and size of the deficit. we reject that they must choose between caring that built the country. >> like every president since fdr, mr. obama started his day early, with a prayer service at st. john's church. before departing the white house for the longest motorcades known to man for the rise to the capital. a star-studded affair. where else do you see paul ryan mingling with jay-z and beyonce who belted out the national anthem. >> the ceremony was over there was a stream of pomp and circumstance waiting. >> from signing papers to officially nominate the new cabinet to lunch with congressional leaders. then, of course, the parade. the first family could make the way back to the white house in that grand bulletproof review stand. yet all of that could wait because leaving the west front of the capitol, the president went off script to take in the vista of the national mall. mr. obama seemed to be taking in the moment. overheard saying he would never quite see this vi

flag and advancing the defensive life and law. >> relentless attack on the street services. i expect that to continue on the state level. >> happy anniversary, baby. >> crr is taking heat over an ad meant to mark 4th anniversary of the rode six entitled "happy anniversary, baby." they say the use of the word "baby" and tone inappropriate for a serious of topic. but it's one of a series of celebrity ads that encouraged thousands to sign on to what is called the bill of reproductive rights. this is playing out against a backdrop of a new documentary with a reference to the shooting death of dr. george tiller who performed late term abortions. in the film, one of the doctors say they have been at war since roe, except there is only one side that has been fighting. bret? >> bret: we usually hear from the president on this anniversary. what is the white house saying today? >> the president said today his administration continues to work toward minimizing the need for abortion. adding that the government should not intrude on private family matters and women should be free to make their ow

security that the elite has. it's the same with self-defense. these celebrities in hollywood, the rich, the powerful, the politicians are all protected, body guards, security, all the magazines they want. i mean, since when does the idea of protection limited to a politician, a powerful, elite, a celebrity, a hollywood person. >> sean: because this came up, oh you mentioned the president's children. the president when he was signing the executive orders had the kids put up on stage and the white house, put up the kids reading letters. >> these are pretty smart letters from some pretty smart young people. >> dear president obama, i think there should be some changes in the law with guns. it's a free country, but i recommend there needs to be a a... with guns, please don't let people own machine guns. >> can we stop using guns? i think if they are no guns on the street, no one could get hurt. >> stop gun violence, i am very sad about the children who lost their lives in connecticut so i thought i would write to you to stop gun violence. >> i have four brothers and sisters and i know